Taiwan President Urges China to Reclaim Land from Russia in Support of Chinese Territorial Integrity

September 3, 2024 TruthUSA

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te stated that the Chinese regime is aiming to seize Taiwan in order to establish regional hegemony.

TAIPEI, Taiwan—According to Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is more focused on advancing towards hegemony rather than achieving territorial integrity.

Lai made these comments during an interview with a Taiwanese television program aired on Sept. 1, marking his first 100 days in office. He pointed out that while Beijing often mentions territorial integrity to justify its desire to take over the self-governed island, the CCP does not apply the same reasoning to historically Chinese territories in Russia.

“China’s intention to attack and annex Taiwan is not driven by the actions or statements of any individual or political party in Taiwan. It is not about preserving territorial integrity but rather about China’s desire to annex Taiwan,” Lai remarked.

“If the goal is territorial integrity, why hasn’t [China] reclaimed the lands occupied by Russia as per the Treaty of Aigun? Russia is currently at a weak point, isn’t it?” he added.

In 1858, the Qing Dynasty signed the Treaty of Aigun, relinquishing a large area of land in present-day Russia’s far east to the Russian Empire, forming a significant part of the current border along the Amur River.

Lai suggested that China could bring up the treaty and request Russia to return the land.

Since China has not done so, Lai concluded, “it is clear that they are not interested in invading Taiwan for territorial reasons.”

In 2023, Joseph Wu, Taiwan’s former foreign minister under Lai’s predecessor, Tsai Ing-wen, warned that the Chinese regime is “more likely” to invade Taiwan in 2027.

CIA Director William Burns also warned last year that CCP leader Xi Jinping instructed his military to be ready for a 2027 invasion.

Lai stated that Beijing’s true motive for wanting to seize Taiwan is to alter the rules-based international order.

“Their goal is to establish hegemony in the international arena, particularly in the Western Pacific—that is the actual objective,” the president affirmed.

Taiwan is situated within the first island chain, which extends from Japan through Taiwan and the Philippines to Malaysia, acting as a hindrance to China’s easy access to the Pacific Ocean for its naval and air forces.

Challenging the US

Akio Yaita, a Japanese political commentator and journalist, expressed agreement with Lai’s assessment of China’s intention to annex Taiwan in a Facebook post on Sept. 2.

“Russia, currently engaged in a war, is experiencing a decline in its national strength. If China wishes to regain its land, this might be a favorable opportunity. Perhaps it could be achieved through some financial expenditure. It is unclear why China continues to offer substantial aid to Russia without making any demands,” Yaita wrote.

Amid Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, the Biden administration has sanctioned Chinese companies for supplying machine tools and electronic components to the Russian military.

Yaita also pointed out that under former CCP leader Jiang Zemin, the Chinese regime transferred land to Russia in the 1990s.

“Xi Jinping’s objective is to oppose the free democratic bloc led by the United States. Russia is China’s partner in this endeavor. The notion that ‘Taiwan’s independence will lead to war’ is merely a convenient excuse for China,” Yaita concluded.

Chiu Chih-wei, a legislator from Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party, echoed Lai’s statement in a Facebook post on Sept. 3, adding that Beijing also displays a firm stance regarding its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

“China’s reunification with Taiwan is not just about removing the government that relocated to Taiwan after losing the Chinese Civil War; it also represents China’s ascent as a major power and its challenge to the United States,” Chiu wrote.

The Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan’s official name, was established in 1912 in China. The ROC government, led by Nationalist leader Chiang Kai-shek, moved to Taiwan in 1949 after losing control of China to Mao Zedong’s communist forces in the Chinese Civil War.

Reuters contributed to the report.

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